Water Environment Research Foundation Recognizes HRSD with Award for Excellence in Innovation for its Nutrient Removal Upgrades
Alexandria, VA (PRWEB) October 09, 2013 -- The Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF) recognized HRSD with its Award for Excellence in Innovation on Tuesday afternoon for its efforts in nutrient removal at its facilities. HRSD, the regional wastewater treatment utility that serves 17 counties and cities in southeast Virginia, received the award for its ability to remove nutrients during the treatment process more cost effectively than previously possible.
The Award for Excellence in Innovation recognizes organizations that have made improvements to wastewater and stormwater collection, storage or treatment operations, facilities, or processes by applying WERF research. HRSD is one of four organizations to receive the award this year.
As a large Chesapeake Bay discharger, nutrient removal issues affect every aspect of HRSD activities. In the last decade, over one-third of HRSD’s $900 million capital improvement program has been invested in nutrient removal upgrades in five treatment plants, with three more to be completed by 2023. HRSD attributes a substantial increase in operating costs to the implementation of new nutrient removal processes, particularly in terms of energy, chemicals, and labor.
HRSD values both achieving high levels of nutrient removal and maintaining fiscal responsibility, which necessitates minimizing resource use throughout the entire organization. Working with consultants HDR, HRSD has both participated in and applied the results of WERF-sponsored research on many occasions. Findings from these investigations informed HRSD to minimize resource use, recover resources, and provide top-quality value to its ratepayers.
A team of WERF volunteers, who themselves are some of the most recognized individuals in the water quality industry, selected the recipients from a field of many well-qualified organizations. Additional information on this award can be found at http://www.werf.org.
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About WERF
The Water Environment Research Foundation, a nonprofit organization formed in 1989, is America's leading independent scientific research organization dedicated to wastewater and stormwater issues.
About HRSD
HRSD, a political subdivision of the Commonwealth of Virginia, was created by public referendum in 1940 and currently serves 17 cities and counties in southeast Virginia, an area with a population of 1.6 million.
Carrie Capuco, Water Environment Research Foundation, http://www.werf.org, 571-384-2097, [email protected]
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